About Us

John Quinn Course Director and Lead Trainer info@seetefl.com

My life, after graduating in computer science, had been an eclectic rush of mainly unsatisfying jobs and adventurous travel. Scientific Officer for the UK’s Ministry of Defence, courier company owner and film extra in Cairo cover much of my working life. My travels have included climbing a pyramid, cycling through France and Spain, travelling the Trans-Siberian Express through The Soviet Union, backpacking India and Nepal for a year and quite a few other escapades.

While contemplating my departure from India in 1999, I felt a cold fear come over me at the thought of returning to suburbia and routine. Fortuitously, I met an EFL teacher taking a break from her job in Bangkok — Eureka! At last a job that would satisfy my need to do something fulfilling and an opportunity for adventure. To cut a long story short – 4 months later in Chiang Mai I stepped into the classroom for the first time.

I’ve taught in schools, colleges, the British Council, and I’ve been the Head of a prestigious English Program (EP) in Chiang Mai. Currently, I’m the Academic Manager of EFL Learning Centre and Senior Trainer for SEE’s TEFL certification programme. In addition, I’m associated with The University of Cambridge’s ESOL examinations.

The students are the primary reason you teach. In Chiang Mai the warmth of the Lanna culture flows through them and emerges as respect for the teacher, friendliness and a love for life. I love it.

Mr. Colin McKenzie Assistant Trainer

I arrived in Chiang Mai just after Christmas 2007 looking for a new challenge. After almost 30 years in the Public Service in Australia, 18 of those years in senior management positions, I felt the need to move away from the paper shuffling and red tape of government departments and get back to the coal face, working in a job where I thought I could make a difference. My previous employment included 8 years heading up Adult and Juvenile Probation & Parole Divisions in Australia, another 4 years as General Manager of 2 prisons and finally, 3 years as the Director of the Community Custody Program in Australia.

My journey from Australia to Thailand was via Papua New Guinea where I worked for almost 4 years as an Adviser to the PNG Department of Justice and Attorney General under an Australian Government Aid Program. This challenging yet highly rewarding role aroused my interest in working in foreign countries and I was attracted to the warm people and interesting cultural aspects that this marvelous country had to offer.

Having attained my TEFL Certificate from SEE in February 2008, I began working as a private English tutor with a number of students in Chiang Mai. In May 2008 with the commencement of the new academic year in Thailand I started working as a teacher at Wachirawit Primary School a private educational institution in Chiang Mai before taking up the position of senior teacher with the English Special Program the following year.

Teaching English as a foreign language is immensely rewarding. The charm and enthusiasm of the Thai children is wonderful to experience and the feeling of making a difference in their lives is very rewarding.

Mrs Wilaiwan Wannachotphawet Quinn (Ying) School Licensee

In July 2004 I returned to Chiang Mai from my Ph.D. Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University. Before I departed Thailand for England I had studied English extensively and to a high level, but I was shocked when the first “Manc” I met said “Hello luv” closely followed by sounds it took me two years to understand as English with a Manchester dialect — I wasn’t his “luv”.

Slowly, deep-fried Mars bars and mushy peas replaced my hunger for chilies and fish sauce, but I never got used to the continuous rain and cold. In Thailand we have 3 seasons: summer (hot and dry), winter (warm and dry), and rainy (warm and humid).

I had seen movies, read magazines and watched television programmes about farang (foreigners of European descent) as I grew up, and like most Thais I was fascinated by these tall and confident people with long noses. In Thailand, apart from my English teacher, I never had the opportunity to meet and talk to them.

Thailand needs English teachers and its people want to meet foreigners but can’t afford to travel abroad, and I know from my English friends that foreigners love Thailand and want to meet Thai people. A match made in heaven.

John and Ying with Mr. Sermsit Pimpandee (Vice Director of Chiang Mai Education Services), and Mr. Dhwatchai Chaikan (The Head of Private Education Institutes) at Chiang Mai Ministry of Education

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Thai food guide by Lanna Innovation